NEW YORK RED BULLS

Red Bulls have three candidates to succeed Hans Backe as head coach of the club, according to a league source.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

By Kristian R. Dyer
BigAppleSoccer.com Contributing Editor

The Red Bulls have believed to have narrowed down their coaching search to three candidates.

Two of the candidates are European, with one believed to be Scottish manager Paul Lambert, according to a league source. Lambert, a former Scottish international, is the manager of Aston Villa in the English Premier League.

The other candidate is believed to be former U.S. international striker Eric Wynalda, who recently interviewed for the position, the source said. Wynalda, an Fox Soccer commentator, recently was named technical director of the Atlanta Silverbacks.

It is believed the Red Bulls also prefer a European coach even after failing with Scotland's Gary McAllister and Portugal's Paulo Sousa.

The Red Bulls are the only Major League Soccer team that has not named a coach. They have not had a coach since Hans Backe was told that his contract would not be extended on Nov. 9, a day after New York was eliminated from the MLS playoffs.

Assistant coach Mike Petke, who has been named the interim coach, is directing pre-season practice that began in Bradenton, Fla. on Tuesday.